On June 21 the Department of National Defence (DND) announced the conclusion of the search for two missing crew members of the Chinook CF-147F helicopter that crashed in the Ottawa River near Petawawa after midnight on Tuesday June 20. The release stated that tragically, neither member survived. The names of the deceased individuals are not being released at the request of their families.
The two members were amongst a total crew of four who were on the 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron aircraft at the time of the accident. The other two members of the crew were taken to hospital in Pembroke with minor injuries shortly after the crash. Both have since been released and are being monitored by Canadian Armed Forces medical personnel. The full range of support is being provided to the families of the two deceased members, the two surviving air crew members and their families, and to the members of 450 Squadron and Garrison Petawawa at this difficult time.
The search was supported by approximately 110 Canadian Armed Forces members on the shore and on the water; including divers from 2 Combat Engineer Regiment, as well as CC-130J Hercules and CH-146 Griffon aircraft from 424 Transport and Rescue Squadron, and 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron. An Ontario Provincial Police marine and dive unit, and Petawawa and Pembroke fire departments, also supported search efforts.
The accident is now the subject of an investigation by the RCAF’s Directorate of Flight Safety. Further information about the accident itself will not be released to preserve the integrity of this independent investigation.
Boaters and the public are being asked to remain off the Ottawa River and away from the shoreline on the operational side of Garrison Petawawa, to allow for the ongoing environmental containment and clean-up efforts and to preserve the integrity of the incident location for the Flight Safety Investigation.
Media Relations,Dept. of National Defence(2023,June21) Search for missing Royal Canadian Air Force members involved in helicopter crash near Petawawa concludes [media release]
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